An untethered EV charger is a charging unit with a socket and no permanently attached cable. Instead of a fixed lead, you plug in your own charging cable — one end into the unit, the other into the car — and you take the cable with you when you leave. Untethered units are the common form in Type 2 markets and at most public AC charging posts, where every driver arrives with a cable of their own.
Key Takeaways
- Untethered means a socket and no attached cable: the driver brings the cable and takes it away.
- The format is standard in Type 2 markets and at public AC posts.
- The cable becomes the driver’s own equipment — matched at both ends, rated for the job, inspected and replaced by its owner.
- Charging power is unchanged; only the cable handling differs from a tethered unit.
How an Untethered Session Works
The charger itself works the same way as any other AC unit — it is the cable handling that differs. A session runs like this:
- Arrive with your cable. It lives in your car, not on the charger.
- Plug the cable into the unit’s socket, then into the car’s charge port.
- Start the session the way that site requires — many public units ask for an app or an RFID card before power flows.
- When you finish, unplug both ends and take the cable with you. The unit is left as a bare socket, with nothing hanging on it.
Because the socket is empty between sessions, many untethered units lock the cable in place while charging, so it cannot be pulled out mid-session. When the session ends, the lock releases and the cable is yours to remove.
Untethered vs Tethered, Term by Term
The two words describe where the cable lives. Our comparison of tethered and socketed wallboxes weighs up which suits which site; this table is just the vocabulary.
| Question | Untethered (socketed) | Tethered |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the cable? | Yours — carried in the car | Permanently attached to the unit |
| What is on the unit? | A socket, usually with a locking mechanism | A cable on a holster or hook |
| Who replaces a worn cable? | You — it is your equipment | The unit’s owner, as part of the charger |
| Connector flexibility | Any cable that matches the socket and the car | Fixed to the connector the unit was built with |
The Cable Becomes Your Equipment
Choosing an untethered unit makes the cable a separate purchase and a separate responsibility. It has to match at both ends — the unit’s socket and your car’s inlet, which in Type 2 regions is normally a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable — and its current rating has to suit the charging you will actually do, which is a figure the cable maker states and the charger maker can confirm. Store it dry, coil it loosely rather than in tight bends, and look it over before use: a damaged cable is replaced, not repaired at home. That ownership is the whole trade of the untethered format — the site keeps no cable to maintain, and the driver carries the one part that wears.
Where EVDANCE Offers the Socket Format
The EV-ACT3204PE 22 kW wallbox (three-phase, Type 2, RFID and app, IP66, CE) is the range’s clearest example: it is offered with a Type 2 cable or as a socket version, so the same unit can be installed untethered where drivers bring their own cables. The wider EVDANCE product range shows which other units are tethered by design — portable chargers, for example, always carry their own cable, because a portable with no cable would charge nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an untethered charger charge more slowly?
No. Charging power is set by the unit and the car, not by whether the cable is attached or removable. Untethered units are AC chargers in the same Level 2 band as tethered ones; the cable just has to be rated for the session, like any other cable.
What cable do I need for an untethered charger?
One that matches the unit’s socket at one end and your car’s inlet at the other — in Type 2 markets, a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable is the usual answer. Confirm the connector pair and the cable’s stated current rating against your car and the units you use most.
Can I leave my cable plugged into a public untethered post?
The cable locks in during your session and is released when it ends. It is your property and your responsibility: take it with you when you leave, both so it is there for your next charge and so it is not left exposed to weather and damage.
Related Reading
- Tethered vs Socketed Wallbox Chargers: Which Should You Install?
- How Do Home EV Chargers Work?
- Are Home EV Chargers Safe?
- What Is EV Wireless Charging and How Does It Work?
